Abu Dhabi pioneers personalised breast cancer treatment with advanced genomic approach

Active work on the implementation of medical innovations is also underway in the BRICS countries. These developments are already demonstrating high efficacy in the treatment of various diseases.

In Russia, scientists have studied an extract of medicinal sweet clover harvested in the Kaliningrad region and identified high concentrations of antioxidant compounds in it – derivatives of luteolin and kaempferol. Experts at the Industrial Biotechnology Research Centre of Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, a partner of TV BRICS, have confirmed in laboratory tests that the extract is non-toxic to human blood cells, reduces inflammation by almost half and exhibits antibacterial activity. The website of the university reports that this is the first comprehensive study of the extract from this local plant. Going forward, the scientists plan to investigate the mechanisms of action of the active compounds in sweet clover with a view to potentially developing anti-inflammatory drugs and functional food supplements.

In China, scientists have discovered a gene capable of halting the progression of Alzheimer’s disease: activation of the Ferd3l gene in mouse models alleviated cognitive impairment, bringing the animals’ performance closer to normal levels. The discovery was made possible by the world’s first functional map of regulatory "switches" in astrocytes – cells that support neurones – created by researchers in Shanghai, reports China Daily, a partner of TV BRICS. To achieve this, they developed a high-throughput sequencing platform, analysed around 400,000 cells and identified the most effective "restorative factor". The map will be shared with scientific and pharmaceutical organisations worldwide to help identify similar genes for other neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and depression.

In Iran, a project to develop a deep brain stimulation (DBS) system has entered the pre-clinical phase – trials on monkeys are currently underway. If these prove successful, clinical trials on humans are scheduled to begin by 1406 according to the local calendar (2027–2028 according to the Gregorian calendar). This was reported by Mehr News Agency, a partner of TV BRICS. The technology is intended for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, drug-resistant epilepsy, and, in certain cases, treatment-resistant depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Globally, around five or six countries, including China, have a commercial product in this field.